A 23-year-old man named Daniel Ramirez Medina was asleep when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entered his home south of Seattle to arrest his father. Ramirez, a Mexican immigrant who was brought to the U.S. as a child and who has a young son who was born in this country, was detained even though he had a permit under Obama’s DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) order, which grants a work permit and deferred deportation status to so-called ‘Dreamers,’ such as Ramirez.

The raid was one of many that have followed a Trump administration executive order which broadened the scope of ICE activities, and specifically targeted sanctuary cities– of which nearby Seattle is one. Up until now, ICE agents had not targeted DACA recipients unless they were in a gang and had committed an offense. While in custody, Ramirez’s attorneys have said he was pressured to admit to gang affiliation, but there is no evidence of this and Ramirez has committed no gang-related crimes. Ramirez had renewed his DACA permit last year, and had recently moved to Washington state for better work opportunities and to raise his son. Should he now face deportation, his family will be torn apart and he will no longer be able to remain with his child.

Trump himself has been unclear on how he would handle DACA recipients and other undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. since childhood or infancy. In an interview, he had stated that he had “a big heart” and that people receiving DACA “shouldn’t be alarmed.” Raids such as the one which rounded up Ramirez are heartless, however, and do send an alarming signal to the 750,000 who are currently protected by DACA, and the larger community of 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country.

There is no evidence that Ramirez poses a public safety threat and ICE has not elaborated on what gang connections Ramirez allegedly has. This case sets a chilling precedent for immigrants in the United States, and must be overturned. Sign the petition below to demand his freedom and to send a message that ‘Dreamers’ should not be unfairly targeted.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Mr. Homan,

Recently, a young man named Daniel Ramirez Medina, who was born in Mexico but was brought into this country as a child, was arrested by ICE agents and is now being held at a Tacoma detention facility. Mr. Ramirez has a young child who is a U.S. citizen, and in spite of allegations that he is a “self-admitted gang member” there is no evidence he had committed any gang-related offenses. His attorney states he was pressured to admit gang affiliation by ICE agents, and was detained even though he carries a permit under the Obama administration’s DACA or Deferred Action plan.

This detention sends a chilling signal to the 750,000 immigrants in this country who did arrive as children or infants. For many of them, the U.S. is the only country they have ever known, as they have grown up here, studied here, and are now working and contributing to our economy. To detain these immigrants is heartless, and their deportation would result in families torn apart, as in the case of Mr. Ramirez.

I demand that Mr. Ramirez be freed unless any gang-related offenses can be proven, and that no further DACA recipients be detained without cause.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Jonathan McIntosh

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